What time to make dinner ADR on arrival night?

[frannn]

We are arriving on a Thursday night in August. The plane is scheduled to land around 5:30PM, and we're renting a car from Alamo. What time can we safely expect to make it to Rainforest Café in DTD? We are staying at AS Mu, and would prefer to check in before dinner. TIA!

 

[compshu]

I'd give yourself about a half hour in case of a delayed flight, half hour to disembark and gather bags, maybe 15-30 minutes to get your rental, then another 30-45 minutes to drive. Add another 30 if you want to check into your resort first. So that would put your ADR around 7:30-8:00. You can of course adjust some of these times, I just don't like feeling rushed so I wouldn't book any earlier than 7:30 because you never know if you'll get stuck in traffic, or held up at the car rental or resort check in.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We are arriving on a Thursday night in August. The plane is scheduled to land around 5:30PM, and we're renting a car from Alamo. What time can we safely expect to make it to Rainforest Café in DTD? We are staying at AS Mu, and would prefer to check in before dinner. TIA!

Hmm, since you are renting a car and don't have to worry about DME, that helps with time. Since you are planning on checking into ASMu before dinner, I would say 8:30pm for dinner. That is 3 hours after landing, getting your luggage from baggage claim, getting the car and drive to WDW and checking in, then drive to Disney Springs. The later the ADR, the better.. maybe even 9pm. Then if you are earlier than scheduled, you just go and see if you can check into Rainforest before your ADR time.

We always arrive early in the morning, so booking a dinner on our arrival day was never an issue. I say 8:30-9pm for the ADR in case of a delay, traffic, anything really. Im not sure I would book a dinner if I were arrival in the evening hours.

 

[siskaren]

Personally, I wouldn't make an ADR on arrival day, especially with such a late landing time. What if the flight is delayed? However, if you really want to do it, I would do it no earlier than 8:30. Also, you can sign up for Landry's Select Club, which would give you priority seating over people who have ADRs. (It costs $25, but you get a $25 welcome reward when you sign up.)

 

[lubob]

I would do 8 to 830 to play it safe.